When we journey away from home, our routines change, as do the distractions surrounding us. In these moments of shift, we are invited to explore new thoughts and make time to be still in His presence. These precious moments of stillness refresh our spirits and fill our hearts with peace and hope. His love is the greatest gift of all, and no matter where life takes us, we are forever blessed to have Him by our side.
I had to get creative without my art supplies, but I created something using my iPhone. I started with one of my old pieces and created a new digital piece…
Proof that rebuilding on His firm foundation makes it better than the original... My heart goes out to the many souls rebuilding their lives... I pray each one starts with His firm foundation, for He will bring them through any situation. His love will always be our victory march!
“Moses spent forty years thinking he was somebody; forty years learning he was nobody, and forty years discovering what God can do with a nobody. D. L. Moody
Meaning of Christian relating to or professing Christianity or its teachings.
The word Christian is only mentioned three times in the New Testament.
As strange as it may sound to many I do not use the word, Christian... I truly don't know why? But like many things in this amazing journey with God. I do not have the answers... It seems that my heart just instinctively knew that I had to follow this great LOVE that fell upon my soul on that monumental day in May of 2018.
At the time, I had no idea where this love came from or what it was... But it placed a hunger in my soul that could not be satisfied. The more I discovered the more I became enamored with this Godly presence. From the outside looking in people would see me as a ”Christian”???
It sounds like a label I could proudly wear across my chest. So why did I not throw the word ”Christian” around while I traveled this most amazing journey...
Come with me as I try to unravel this word. What is the mystery of why I never call myself by this label? Don't be critical or discouraged if you use this word that is perfectly ok... God knows our hearts and our intentions and gives us all such unique and diverse opportunities to truly know Him on an intimate level.
So let's discover how the word Christian came to be and if it fits our individual needs.
The three places the word Christian appears in the Bible is in Acts 11:26, Acts 26:28, and 1 Peter 4:16
And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples (A) were called Christians first (B) at Antioch. Acts 11:26
However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 1 Peter 4:16
Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian Acts 26:28
After diving into this word. It does seem to be a label given by the government of Rome to a group of disciples and or churchgoers...
I am set aside. I am a follower of Christ. And if you must label me you could call me a ”Christian” you would probably be right. However, I have discovered in this world of labels, labels seem to create division...
However, I have also discovered that His love can build bridges between all diversities... One day we will all discover that we are truly all one world ... under ONE great LOVE... under one supreme God.
Once bitten by this LOVE there is no turning back.
So call me what you will... I know who my heart follows... And you can call Him Jesus Christ... My Lord and Savior...
It's Him. It's always Him!!!
And if you must label me you can call me a Child of God... Now that's a label I can live with!! It speaks of the power of His Love for His Child... He loves me... and that is a WOW...
“Fall in love with being true to yourself, no matter how unpopular it is.” -Edmond Mbiaka..
Meaning of imposter - a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others, especially for fraudulent gain:
The word imposter or the referenced word seems to appear approximately 3 times in the Bible.
Are you a what you see, is what you get the type of person?? The word transparency has become a popular word in today’s vocabulary. We all try to identify and remove imposters from our lives as they most likely can not be trusted with our hearts...
From my experience, many of these imposters have very charismatic types of personalities and can suck you into their snare before you realize what happened you may have become a victim of their fake world and hidden agenda.
Not all imposters can be disclosed with the naked eye.
Have you ever seen knock off purses, watches, sneakers.. etc
From a distance, they seem like the real deal.. But the quality can not stand up to the everyday wear and tear of the original...
We all have been guilty of wearing fake smiles, and showing only what we want others to believe. Social media is a hotbed for fake, imposters, and for creating a life you want others to believe. Do we read between in lines and find the true authentic person.. the raw, the real ??
I do believe we have all been victims of trusting, of giving our hearts, and of being injured by the imposter syndrome.
Yes, Christians can be imposters too. They have the same human frailties and desires, we all live in an imperfect world. We all crave to belong, to fit in .. but at what cost.. To be an imposter we give up the best part of ourselves... We all have unique and special qualities that God himself has given to us. And these qualities get lost as we hide behind what we want others to see.
Many thought and still think of Jesus as an imposter. I am curious what does it take for people to believe? What does it take for people to see His transparency? Even in death He never wavered? Most if not all imposters will shed their cloak and change like a chameleon when things get hot. Not Him. He was steadfast in His mission.
I can only speak from my experience and my heart. Jesus has shown me His love, His compassion, and His grace. His agenda has always been to LOVE. Many theologians have tried their very best to disprove His life only to find He was indeed the real deal.. He was and still is that what you see is what you get the type of person??
The question becomes do we spend the time to truly know Him? Do we show Him our true authenticity? Or do we attempt to show Him the facade we created?? Trust me He sees past the mask we wear. He sees our hearts.. and the most amazing thing is He loves us anyway...
I will admit, He holds my transparent heart. It’s taken me awhile to shed the layers of life that had my heart bound .. and I am still a work in progress. But with His teachings and many tears, (not all sad tears).
I am finding the true, the raw, the original, person God has made me to be.. Trust me, I one hundred percent know ... He is not finished with me yet...
It’s been an amazing adventure of self-discovery and only He has the power to truly see our hearts... He wows me...
Don’t be a fake or an imposter, be transparent, be raw, be everything God knows you can be!!!
It’s Him, It’s always Him...
“It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night.”
Psalms 139:11 TPT
For many deceivers [heretics, posing as Christians] have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge and confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (bodily form). This [person, the kind who does this] is the deceiver and the antichrist [that is, the antagonist of Christ 2 John 1:7
“God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way— the path that brings me back to you.”
What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” - Hans urs von Balthasar.
The meaning of Christian: A believer in Christ.
To our surprise, the word Christian is only used three times in the New Testament.
Have you ever been asked if you are a Christian? Have you ever said I am a Christian? Have you ever truly understood why you would use the word Christian?
If this word held such status, why wouldn't they have used it more than three times in the Bible? How did this word come into existence? My curious mind brought me here:
The word is derived from the word Christ. That is what most of us see without investigating why we use this label to describe ourselves and this class of people. As a follower of Christ, there is an underlying current of not being accepted in many circles. Perhaps this is how this word became a label.
Many will believe you are strange. Many will shun you; many will run. And we will find that using this word allows us to belong to a group of “like-minded” people. It will enable us to feel we are not alone in this mysterious walk of following Christ.
But indeed, it is a unique and personal state of existence for each man, woman, and child. Because we genuinely must walk and build our relationship with Christ alone. It is a walk of commitment and falling in love with Him daily.
However, that said, we find comfort in being a part of a Christian network of believers. It allows us to learn from those who have traveled this road before us. But I ask, has the word lost its luster over time. Has it become a loose label to describe many people who genuinely do not even know why they use this word? Are we going through the motions? Are we there for the right reasons?
Many have built a relationship with Christ and have the confidence to be unashamed to stand alone. They have no issues with saying I am a believer of Christ. I am a follower of His teachings. I understand His doctrine. I love Him and will share His Love with anyone who will listen!
I am a spiritual work in progress, and every day, I work on strengthening my relationship with my Creator. And if you need a label to describe me, I will not take it personally. You can call me a Christian, you can call me a believer, you can call me a follower, you can call me spiritual, you can call me fanatic, you can call me crazy. I am confident in my relationship with HIM, and unless you have felt Him stirring in your soul, you will never understand.
Giving me a label only shows your insecurities. He is where my strength lies. He is where my forgiveness starts. He is where my LOVE for you begins, and it is because of...
It’s Him. It’s always Him.
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." Psalm 28:7
"Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye." Colossians 3:13
"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. " Psalm 16:11
